USGBC Florida Gulf Coast Chapter Announces 2013 LEEDership Awards

St. Petersburg, FL (August 1, 2013) – The Florida Gulf Coast Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council hosted an official “Kick Off” event at the Oxford Exchange on Tuesday, July 30, and launched the Chapter’s ‘Call for Nominations’ for their annual LEEDership Awards event. This event will take place on October 23rd, 2013 in St. Petersburg, FL.

The annual awards ceremony offers recognition to outstanding projects, inspirational businesses, dedicated individuals, and instrumental chapter members. These members are active in creating and promoting a more sustainably-built environment which reduces operating costs, improves indoor health, promotes responsible construction and reduces the environmental impact on the Gulf Coast of Florida.

The LEEDership Awards are composed of SIX categories:

Outstanding Community LEEDer

Outstanding Project of the Year

Outstanding Business of the Year

Outstanding Municipality

Member of the Year

Design Team Award (NEW this year)

Each applicant must meet the listed criteria (evaluation criteria is available at http://sustainabletampabay.com/LEEDerAwards) to be eligible for consideration.

All nominees will be evaluated on their demonstrated leadership, advocacy, and commitment to the mission of the U. S. Green Building Council. All interested applicants have until 5 p.m. on August 30th to submit their “Intention to Nominate” to the Executive Director Colleen Mackin (colleen@usgbc-fgc.org).

Winners will be selected by a panel of distinguished judges.

Tuesday’s event featured Founding President John Toppe, who offered opening remarks recalling the core group of leaders in sustainability 10 years ago who had gathered in a room similar to Tuesday’s gathering to found the Florida Gulf Coast Chapter. Past President Josh Bomstein spoke to his experience with the triple bottom line: environmental, social and economic prosperity. Current President Lacey Willard shared the key accomplishments of the Chapter, including creation of an outdoor classroom complete with a butterfly garden for elementary school children; a scholarship in the namesake of one of our founders for emerging professionals who will take our mission to the next generation; and recognition of firms whose commitment to sustainability extends to employee recruitment, space use, product purchasing, waste streams, and public branding. The event emcee was Taylor Ralph, Tampa Bay Branch Chair and event sponsor.

Information on Awards Ceremony sponsorship, Application Documents, content direction and General Submission Requirements are available at the LEEDership Awards website at http://sustainabletampabay.com/LEEDerAwards.

About the US Green Building Council Florida Gulf Coast Chapter: The mission of the Florida Gulf Coast Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is to lead the region toward sustainability by encouraging and advancing environmentally-friendly knowledge and values. These values pertain to the built environment and relationship with nature and human kind.